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Q.-If you had to take representations from their detectives, and if their detectives had to bring a man to the Police the moment he was arrested, don't you think that it would be necessary to have recourse to frequent communications with the Pó Léung Kuk ?
A. There would be frequent communication no doubt, but it is not necessary on that account to assist in regulating their internal management.
Q.-But the management includes the management of the detectives who would be subordinate to you more or less ?
A.-I think the detectives ought to be subordinate to the members of the Society.
Honourable T. H WHITEHEAD. And not to the Police ?
A.-No, but as I have said the detectives should have no right to keep any one under arrest.
Q.-Does the existence of the Pó Léung Kuk detectives interfere with the free exercise of the duties of the Police ?
A.-I don't think so.
Q.-You don't think that the Police are less energetic with kidnapping cases than if it was entirely in their control ?
A. I think not on the whole. I believe that when a case is brought to the Police they act up to their duty, but of course they are aware that there is a special association which devotes itself to this branch of crime, and it is possible that they look out less for such cases because they know that.
Q.-Is it not likely that results are less satisfactory than if it was left to the Police ?
A.-I don't think so. As long as the Pó Léung Kuk are regarded as assisting the Police they must help to diminish the crime.
Q-Without the aid of the Pó Léung Kuk do you think that the Police Force are incompetent to deal with the cases ?
A.--Not at all. I don't think they are incompetent, but they have more assistance in having so many additional detectives looking out for this particular kind of crime.
The CHAIRMAN.--Do you not think that the assistance of so many respectable members of the Chinese community of Hongkong is valuable?
A. Yes.
Q.You think it would be well to encourage it?
A.-Certainly, if they go the right way about it.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Do you regard the Pó Léung Kuk and its work as thoroughly constitutional?
A.-I'am in doubt about it. My impression received from
My impression received from a little intercourse is that the Directors of the Pó Léung Kuk seem to imagine that they have the right to control the Police, which of course they have not. I think there is some misunder- standing in that respect which ought to be removed. It was only the other day that a gentleman belonging to the Pó Leung Kuk came to see me and was somewhat indig- nant and surprised because I would not furnish him with a Police whistle. The Police whistle, as you must know, is a badge of office. The gentleman asked me for this and I declined, as I have said, to give it to him. The explanation of his request, was "How is a Policeman to know that he has to obey me if I do not have the whistle ?" I said